Former surfwear company Billabong CEO MATTHEW PERRIN has appeared in court "charged with defrauding the Commonwealth Bank of $13.5M" (SMH, 10/2). ... The New Zealand Rugby Union said that Chair MIKE EAGLE and Dir GERHARD VAN TILBERG "were mugged by motorcycle-riding thieves outside of the All Blacks' team hotel" in Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP, 10/2). ... Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund Head Coach JÜRGEN KLOPP "was sentenced to a fine of €6,000 ($7,800) by the German Football Federation Sport Court" for his "unsportsmanlike conduct" in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sept. 25 (DPA, 10/1). ... Former England General Manager FRANCO BALDINI has turned down English Premier League club Tottenham and is "expected to announce his decision to remain" with Serie A Roma on Wednesday. Despite his "well-known love of the capital" in England, he is not prepared to "betray Roma's wealthy American owners" by walking out on Roma (DAILY MAIL, 10/2). ... Paris St. Germain striker ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC does not believe his former Barcelona teammate LIONEL MESSI is deserving of the FIFA Ballon d'Or award. Ibrahimovic said, "Messi had a fantastic season but he has not won that much and he has already won the Ballon d'Or three times" (London INDEPENDENT, 10/2). ... Football official NAJEEB CHIRAKAL has been banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee from taking part in all football-related activity due to his lack of collaboration with the on-going investigation proceedings opened against former Asia Football Confederation President MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM. The ban is effective immediately and will last for two months or until Chirakal cooperates with these proceedings as requested, whichever is earlier (FIFA).
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Sports lifestyle network for golf fans Back9Network announced that TONY JACKLIN, widely viewed as the man who helped revitalize British golf and re-establish European competitiveness in the Ryder Cup, has joined the network as Global Brand Ambassador. Jacklin will be provided with a multimedia platform - TV, web and mobile - to expand upon his lifelong passion and commitment to make a positive difference in the world of golf (Back9Network). ... Europe's winning Ryder Cup captain JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL said that he "does not intend to skipper the side" at Gleneagles in '14. Olazabal said, "Clearly I won't do it again." One of Olazabal's Vice-Captains, Irishman PAUL MCGINLEY, is the bookmakers' "favourite to captain the side" in Scotland in two years' time. Olazabal said that Scot PAUL LAWRIE, part of the 2012 winning side, "was another potential contender" (BBC, 10/2). ... England cricket team Dir ANDY FLOWER is "hopeful of a positive resolution" to the KEVIN PIETERSEN saga Wednesday or Thursday. Pietersen has not played for England since August after a storm over his text messages to South Africa players which allegedly contained "derogatory" references to then England captain ANDREW STRAUSS. The expectation of an "imminent reconciliation has even led to speculation" Pietersen could be added to the party traveling to India later this month (PA, 10/2).
ON THE ICE: German Hockey League (DEL) club Adler Mannheim "welcomed 2011 Stanley Cup champion DENNIS SEIDENBERG on Tuesday." The 31-year-old Boston Bruins defenseman "is expected to make his DEL debut on Sunday against Dusseldorf." In addition, DEL club Hamburg Freezers "acquired the services of Dallas Stars forward JAMIE BENN." The 23-year-old Canadian scored 70 goals and 90 assists in 222 games for the Stars (KICKERS.de, 10/2). ... Buffalo Sabres forward THOMAS VANEK "returns to his native Austria during the NHL lockout." The 28-year-old "will join the Graz 99ers in the Austrian Erste Bank Eishockey Bundesliga" (KRONE.at, 10/1). ... Swiss National League A club Red Ice Martigny "signed Swedish forward PATRIC HÖRNQVIST." The 25-year-old has played 287 games for the Nashville Predators (BLICK.ch, 10/1).
END OF THE ROAD: Former German national team captain MICHAEL BALLACK "announced his retirement from professional football via a statement from his lawyer." The 36-year-old played for Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for Chelsea FC in the Premier League (FAZ.net, 10/2). In a statement Ballack said: "At 36 years old I can look back on a long and wonderful time in professional football, which I could never have dreamed of as a child. It was a privilege to work with world-class coaches and fantastic players. Now I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life." The midfielder made 98 caps for Germany, scoring 42 goals, during a career that saw him establish a reputation as one of Europe's finest players in his position (EUROSPORT, 2/10).
